Loose-leaf binder.



PATENT .DDEO. 4', 1906 G; G. MALTBY. LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION IILEDAUG. 1, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- No 887,699. PATENTHD DEG. 4, 1906.

' G. G. MALTBY.

LOOSE LEAP BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.1, 1902.

2 SEEETE-QHEET 2.

Z6 Z6 27 as! 50 ED STATES PATENT OFFICE:

C. MALTBY, -OF-CINCINNATI, OHI O, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE TWINLOCK COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO; A CORPORATIQN OF OHIO LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

"Specification of Letters new.

Patented Dee. 4,1906.

Application filed August 1,1902. serial no. 117,939.

ToQaZZ. whom-it concern:

. .Be it known that I, CnanLns'C. MALTBY, acitizen of the United States of America, and

a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented oertaiil' new' and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders, of. which the following isaspecification. I This invention relates to certain improve- "mentsjin loose-leafbinders, and more es- 1. P30 1 13. in that-classof such devices wherein :means are provided for holding each sheet removably in place in thebinder so that each sheet ind; be removed sep binder w enever it isdesired so to'do; and the object of my invention is to provides. device of thisgeneral character of a simple and inexpensive nature and of astrong and du rable "structure-having improved means for holdingthe. sheets in place, so that each sheet is securely held in position; in p the binder and unevenness along the edges of the sheets is prevented.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved lockin means for locking the 'beets in lane-in the inder, such means being capab e of automatic action for locking the sheets in position, but being also capable of being readily actuated for unlocking the sheets to permit ready removal of the several sheets when desired.

The invention consists in certain novel {features of the construction, combination, and arrangement of the several parts oi; the improved loose-leaf binder whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is made simpler, cheaper, and otherwise better adapted and more convenient for f to illustrate my-invent1on, Figure 1 is a persnective'view drawn .to a small scaleand showingone embodiment of the improved binder, Fig. 2 isa view showing, detached and in plan, thetwo binding'strips or parts gem risedin'the improved binder. Fig. 3 is an; elevation. showing the inner surfaces of the. binding stri a... ':Fig, 4;is a ii-agmentary sectional detail arately from thes orparts illustrated in view showing certain features of construction of said locking strips or parts, the plane of the section being indicated by the line a a, in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlar ed sectional view taken transversely. throu one of the locking devices at the back of t e binder and showing the partsof said locking device in locked position, the plane of the section be ing indicated by the line 0- cm Fig; 3; and Fig. 6 is a partial view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the operative parts of the locking device moved to another or unlocked position to permit removal of the sheets from the binder. Fig. 7 is a partial plan view drawn to a small scale, the bindin or holding devices for the sheets being 510% in section in a plane between two of the sheets. Fig. 8 is an under side plan view drawn to an enlarged scale audshowing certain details of construction of the means for simultaneously actuating the independent locking de-. vices for the s eets forming part of the -im proved binder. Fig; 9 is a sectional detail view taken in the lane indicated by the line b b in Fig. 8 and showing the construction of the parts shown in said figure. Fig. 10 is a view showing the end portion of a key adapted for use in connection with the improved binder. Fig. 11 is a view drawn to a reduced scale and showing the form of the leaves or pages adapted for use in the im proved binder.

The improved loose sheet binder constructed in accordance with m ments is especially well adapte for use in account-books, and articularly in ledgers such as are commonly termed loose-lea ledgers and wherein the several accounts are kept upon sepa-rate sheets or leavesof the book, and such sheets or leaves are capable of being readily removed whenever the'accounts upon them become deador closed and or being transposed or replaced by new leaves of sheets. having new accounts upon them, so that in this way the ledger is prevented from becoming too bulkyand the annoyance and inconvenience occasioned by the presence of such dead accounts in the .book or by theltransposition of accounts from leaf to leaf, such as is necessary in led ers bound in the'ordinary manner, is en-' the y revented: .However, while. ;the improve binder. I especially, wellffadapted .for

improvethis use I 'do'not desire to be understood as limiting myself to its employment in account- 'books or lodgers exclusively, since it will be readily understood that the=devide is capable of other uses as well.

As shown in the drawings, the improved binder comprises two-sides or covers 1 1,

each ofyvbich has connectionwith a strip or piece 2, preferably formed of a metal bar of suitable form and strength, over which the leather or other covering of the corresponding strip'or'piece 2 is, as shown lllfFig. 5,;locate at the outer surfaceof the side or'co'ver, so that aspace or recess is reduced upon the inner surface-ofeach si' e or cover of the binder and along the cor'respondinstri or pliece'2. l -his arrangement ofthe exib e or nge-connections of the sides or covers per- 7 mits the'said sides or covers to be openedflat,

so that the several sheets or leaves held-Within the improved binder may-also be opened-in a substantially flat form, whereby practicall the whole surface ofeach leafor sheet is rea .ily accessible. {The-sheets or leaves held within. the improved binder are severally indicated at 5-on thedrawings. Eaohof themetal strips-or-pi-eces 2 2 of the sides or'covers '1- 1 is formed with a'recess or hollow-"6 upon 'itsinnersurface-so that the structure may be made as light as possible, and therecessorhollowfi of one of said strips orpieces '2 isarranged tidhouse certain portions of the locking mechanism,- as-will be hereinafter explained. iThe back of the binder is formed frornjtiivo plates or pieces 7 and 8 of sheet metal, ariganged to lap one inside of the other and extended at right a'ngles from the inner surfaces of the strips or pieces 2 '2 of the sidesor'e'overs, the plate or partf7 being provided with an angular body portion 10, adapted to fit iflusheupon the inner'face-of the-strip 2 oi -one side'orcover.

over the recess -or hollo'wg o therein, and the plate or part S' be'in forfhed with a similar angular portion'9, af aptd'd to-befitted flush upon the inner face-of thel'Strip 2 of the-other side-orcover 1'- over therdbess in said strip or I piece'2, as olearlyrshowrfihnll ig. 5.

At opposite endsof the back of the binder thus formed of the plates 7 and 8 are arranged the locking devices, the detailed structure. of Whichwill -be"-hereinafter described an'd these-lockingdevices are adaptedior simultaneous operation by means of a single key to release the sheets or leaves.

Each-locking device comprises parts carried,

respectively, b the't wo sides-or'covers of the binder, and t ese parts are 'housed or in- I closed withinbasiii .part' or member .12 being carried upon the receive the open lower ends 0 senses v I s or shells at the ends of the back of the binder, such shells or casings being eacli formed of two telescoping members 12 and 13 of rectangular cross-section, the

'late 7,'- which'forms one wall thereof, and

avin an open end in which is arranged to fit an slide the other member 13, which is carried on the plate 8 and has one Wall formed by said plate. In the inner wall of each member 12is formed a slitted opening adapted for the passe e of the plate 8when the two parts of the badlcare slid one overthe other.

Outside o'fi'the casings or-she'lls thus formed the angular portions 9 andlO of the plates 8 and '7 are extended to form, flanges having 0 enings adapted to receive screws 11 or the lilie, by m'eansyof Which-said plat-es. may be held upon the strips or pieces2 2 ofthegeovers', and other similar retaining means inay be arranged as may be necessary between the two casings or she ls. Between the two, as ings or shells'are arranged a series oflleaf'or sheet retaining mearfg each *formed oftelescoping members 15-and 16 in tubular form,

the members-15' being carried upon thelzportion 10 of plate 8 and having open-ends to ft emembers .16, Which are of less diameter and are carried u on the ortion 9 of plate 7; nWithin the tu ular te escoping members -15-and 1 6 are arranged springs 17, adapted by their tension to press the two sides or covers of the binder away i'rorneach-other when said sides lockin' devices. i

Eac of the leaves'or sheets 5 held within thebinder, will have its binding edge arranged to fit closely adjacent to the'inner or covers arereleased -by/the operation of the mo surface'of the backformed of the plates 7 and 8, as shown-in Fig. 7', and for en agement with the retaining means formed o the telesco in members 15 and 16 each sheet or lea 5 is formed with a circular opening; just forward of the binding edge "of the: leaf or sheet andwith a-slitted opening 55? extended .froni such opening back to the-said binding edge. This means for secnringthe sheetsor leaves in the binder by-engagemerit with the retaining means'of the binder iS-'-Wll known 11'5 and will require no special description herein. At theends of the back of the; binder Where the casings or shells-of the-loching-rneans-are located the sheets or leaves 5 :areaalso formed with open right-angled cut-out portions 5 5*, adapted to fit around the angle forrned by the inner and forward sides ;:of the; said re-. s ective shells or casings, its-shown in Fig.7, t 1e up or and-lower ends ofthe sheets :or

leaves' eing inline with the corresponding 12 5 Walls of the said shells or casings By this means it will be understood that when the leaves or sheets 5 -are--locked,witiun the binder between the strips-orpieces 2,2 .of the sides or covers which extend along the bind- 1 s,;

' stop 27 upont when saidkey ing edges of the sheets ori leaves the open right-filed upper and lower corners of each sheet l engage upon the shells or casings at said open angular cut-out parts 5 5' msuch a way as to altogether preventlateral or pivotal upon the retaining means and upon each other, so that the ed es of the several leaves or sheets 5 will be held in alinement and will be prevented from becoming uneven.

The provision of the 0 en cut-out angular corners 5 5 facilitates t e removal or disengagement of the respective sheets when de' sired and without disturbin any of the other sheets or turning the severa sheets up at the opposite ends of their binding ed es.

14 14 indicate the locking evices contained within theshells or casin s at the ends of the back, and these locking ievices areof similar construction and are adapted for automatic engagement or operation when the sides or covers are ressed toward each other to hold the ,severa sheets or leaves securely clamped between the strips or ieces 2 2 along their binding ed es. Said ocking de vices are also-adapted or simultaneous actuation upon the insertion of a ke for releasing the sheets or leaves to permit t e removal or transposition thereof, and such actuation of said lockin devices is effected by the mechanism whic I will now describe.

One of the sides or covers of. the formed with an openin 21 in its strip or' piece 2, as indicated in Fig; 9, andover the said opening 21 is secured an escutcheonplate 18, having a circular opening19 to receive the in Fig. 10,) said key being formed with oppositely-directed wards 30 30, which are 'arranged to pass through notched openings 20 at opposite sides of said circular opening 19 in the escutcheon-plate. The key 28 has its barrel rovided with a bore or opening 29, in which 1s adapted to be received when: the key is engaged with the opening in the escutcheon-plate a pin or stud 22, on which. is arranged to turn a disk-shaped part'or member 23, recessed upon its upperside and provided "with diametrically opposite. openings 26 26,

adapted to receive the wards 30 30 of the'key is inserted through the opening in the ate 19 andturned part way around; f

The disk-shaped part or memb er'23 has an overhanging circularupper portion 24 formed with a marginalgroove 25 and provided with two oppositely-arranged pins or studs 2727, de ending from its under surface, as shown in igs. 3, 8, and 9, and one of said-pins or studs 27 .is ada ted forengagement with a forming part of the back of the bin pivot in or stud 22 of the member 23 being rivete orotherwi'seheldto'thecentral part ot said JnQrtiOnQ, as shown in the drawings movement of the leaves or sheets binder is barrel of, a key 28, (shown in detail portion 9, of the late 7,

er,the-,

When the member 23 stands i'nits normal position, the pin 27 is engaged with said sto 27 and to hold the parts in'this position? provide a spring 32, one-end of which is 'engaged with a projection onthe' ortion 9 of plate 7-and the other end "of whic is engaged with a hook 31, extended from the grooved periphery of the overhangin portion 24 of member 23. When the member 23 is turned on pin 22 for actuatin the locking devices for the release'of the s eets or leaves from the'binder, the spring- 32 is permitted to seat itself in the annular peripheral groove 25 of the overhanging portion 24 of said member 23, so that said spring may roperly exert its tension to returnthe mem er to its normal osition when the key' is withdrawn or reeased. A

33 33 indicate two bars or levers pivotally held upon the portion 9 of plate 7 within the hollow 6 of the corresponding strip 2. and extended in opposite directions from the member 23 toward the casings or shells at the ends of the back of the binder, the pivots of said bars or levers 33 being indicated at 34."

Each baror lever has its'inner end arranged beneath the overhanging portion 24 of mem-. ber 23 and in position to be en aged by a pin 27 thereon, and the bars or eversare arranged for movement in opposite directions,

so that when the member '23 is turned by means of the key eachbar or lever will be engaged and moved by one ofthe' pins 27. Springs 37 are arranged to-retur'n the bars or levers to their normal positions when the ke is withdrawn or released, and member 23 1s roo permitted to be turned to its normal position by means of spring 32.

The outer-ends of he bars or levels 33 are upper reduced orming arts or casings and having their'rediiced upper ends passed throug-l1-:. slotted-.: openings '38 in plate 9 in positionto be engaged by the slot-. ted or notched ends of levers 33. The lower ends of the levers 39 have loose connection, as shown at 41, with lugs or rojections'extended upward from dogs or detents 42, also pivoted in the members 13 of .the casin s or L shells, as shown at 43, and having teeth or end ortions 44 adapted for engagement with 'ratc et-like serrations 45 upon parts or bars 46, held in the members 12of the shells or casings,'with end portions adapted to pass up within the members 13 when the parts or members are slid telescopicall one ilpon the-- other, as shown in Figs. 5 an 6; .;The parts plate 10 in theshell members;1-2, anj the pperends ofsaidparts;oribamklmileghook-513' or bars-46' liave' feet 47 screwed, u 'c-n the r 5 reverse movement of the sides or covers away ward each other;'so' as to bindor. clamp portions 48 adapted by engagement with the detents 42 to prevent disengagement of the membersof the shells when said detents are disengaged from the serrations of the bars 46. Springs 42 hold the detents normally engaged with serrations 45 except when the key 28 is inserted and turned.

Tlie ratchet-like serrations 45 of the bars 46 are arranged with their inclined surfaces adapted to permit the teeth of the detents 42 to be slipped along the senrationswhen the sides or covers'of the binder are pressed t-v the ed e portions of the sheets betwee'n the si es or'covers; butsaid serrations prevent from each other for the removal. of the sheets except when the locking devices are actuated upon the insertion and turning of'the key to disengage the detents from. the serrations.

The parts of the locking'devices are set to Work in opposite directions, so that the opposite movements of the levers 33 will be si;

multane'ously' communicated .to said devices for the release of the sheets from the binder.

In 'operationwhen-the key 28 is iHSBItGd v and turned the 'firstmovement thereof will serve to engage the wards '30 beneath the plate 18,-, so that the'key will beheld against removal until turned back, after which the wardswill come inalinement with the.

. openings 26 and may be pressed into the same,sothat furtherturning of the key will i be transmitted to. the member 23 to turn the same against the tension of spri moving in engagement with the evers 33 to swing the same pivotally, their movements being communicated through levers 39 to de-. tents 42 to swing the teeth-44 out of engagement with the. serrations of the bars 46 .and

I perinit the sides or covers of the binder to be drawnjaway from eachother, the members of. the :shells moving over each other and members '15 and 16 of the retaining means being also movedover each other'by springs 17.-

For' thin or shallow hinders the levers '39 may be omitted and the portions 41' of dogs 42 may be carried up and actuated directly from the notched ends 35 of levers or" bars 33; but for thlck or deep binders, where the members of'the shells of the locking devices must have considerable movement,"I-

- prefer to employ the levers 39. I I

When the sides or coversare thus moved away from each other, the sheets or leaves 5 maybe inserted in or removed from or transposed'in the binder in a well known way by disengaging their bindingedges from the retaining means, and when the rearrangement of the sheets or leaves has been effected-the sides or covers of the binder are merely pressedtightly toward each other, so as to cause-the binding edges of the. sheets or leaves to be clamped securely between the strips 2 2v of the s1desor covers,so that the.

32, pins 27 hat the edges of the aged.

seaaes.

sheets or leaves will be securely held the binder. When the sides or covers of the. binder are pressed toward each other the members of the shells orcasti'ngs'of thelocking devices will slide one over the other, and the dogs or detents 42 will traverse the'serrations of the bars or parts 46, which will act byen agement of the teeth of the dogs or deten to hold the sides ;or covers against reverse movements until the key. has been again inserted and turned to releasethe dogs from the serrations 45. The springs 37 and 42 serve to return the detents of the locking devices into engagement with the serrations of the bars 46 when the key is removed or re leased, 3 a Y Each of the locking devices is, as will be obvious from the abovedescription, capable of independent operation to automatic ally lock the sides or covers in clamping en gagement upon the binding edges. of the sheets or leaves, so that in 'caseth'ere should be any variation between the thicknesses of the bound sheets e'r leaves at the respective I bound sheets orlcaves securely in place without permitting sliding orpivotal movement of the sheets or leages upon each other, so sheets or leaves when clamped are held perfectly even and straight:

and are not in danger of being'torn or dam- From the. above description of my 'improved loose-leaf binder it will be seen'that the device is of an extremely simple and; in-' expensive nature and is especiallywell adapted for use by reason of the security with which the sheets or leavesare held clamped withinthe sides or'covers. and also by reason. of ,the ease with which-the locking devices may be actuated for the independent removal 7 or transposition of such leaves orsheets.

For these reasons the device is es ecially' well ada ted for use in account-boo s of venous kin s, 'such'as ledgers, for example.

It will also be obvious from the above description that the device is capable of con-' siderable modification without material departure from the principles and spirit of the I invention, and for this .reason I do not wish to-be understood as limiting. m self 'to the I precise form and arrangement 0 the several arts as herein set forth in carrying out my invention in practice. 4 1 Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat'- ent, 1s-- a 1 In a. loose-leaf binder, the climb-mason of sidesorv covers having "strips between which removable sheets or leaves are adapted to be held at their binding edges, locl ing de vices each comprising arts normally engaged but adapted for isengagement, said locking devices adapted for independent operation and located adjacent to opposite ends of said strips sheet-retaining means located between said locking devices and a device having connection with each of said locking devices for simultaneously actuating the same, substantially as set forth. q

. 2 In a loose-leaf binder; thecombination of sides or covers having strips between whichremovable leaves are adapted to be held at their binding edges, leaf-retaining means, casings formed of telescoping members at opposite ends of said strips of the respect ve sides or covers, a serrated bar on each end of the strip of one side orxcover and in the corresponding casing member held thereon, a dog pivoted in each "casing member on the strip of the othcr's'rde or cover and arranged for engagement with the serrations of the said bar and lever mechanism connected with and arranged to simultaneously actuate the dog of each casing-substantially as set forth. l

3. In a loose-leaf binderythe combination .of sides or covers having strips between which removable leaves areadapted to be held at their binding edges, leaf-retaining means, a plurality of locking de vices for holding the sides or covers when moved to clamp the leaves, each lockingdevice comprising parts capable of independent engagement and disengagement, a part held toturn on' the strip of one sitIe orcover and lever mechanism for actuating the locking devices from said part, substantially as set forth.

7 4. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination of sides or covers ha ving strips provided with looking devices and between which strips sheets or leaves are adapted to be clamped, a

rotatable part held to one side or cover and" provided with pins, levers for engagement with said pins and arranged to communicate the movements of said part to the locking devices and' means for returning the parts to their normal positions, substantially as set forth. v

5. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination of sides or covers having strips between which removable sheets are adapted to be held at their binding edges, members located at opposite ends of the respective stripa-the members of one strip being arranged for telescoping engagement with those of the other fstrip, sheet or leaf retaining devices held on the strips between said members, locking means housed, within said members and adapted forengagement to hold the strips and covers in relation, and sheets or leaves held s t-their binding edges on the sheet or leaf retaining means between the members, at the ends of the strips, each leaf or -sheet tion of the casing, the ends on the one sectio tion out out and the telescoping members of 4 the strips being engaged in the cut-out portions at the binding edges of said'sheets or leaves.

6. .A loose-leaf book-back comprising a sec tional casing, :the one-adapted to take upon the other, said sectional casing provided withv telescopic ends and attaching tubes or rods, a rack secured within one sideof said ends, a

spring-controlled pawl mounted within the other side of said ends and normally held in mesh with said rack, and means secured to said pawls and extending to the outside of the casing whereby they may be thrown out of mesh with the rack and the casing expanded, said pawl and rack so constructed and related to each other as to form a look when the book-back has been fully expanded:

7. A loose-leaf book-back comprising a sectional casing provided with telescpic tubes or attaching-rods, springs seated within said tubes and under tension when. the casing .is contracted, said sectional casing provided with hooded ends, the ends on the one section adapted to take into the ends on the other section of said casing, racks secured Within the ends of the one section, springcontrolled pawls secured within the ends of the other section, levers pivoted Within said last-mentioned ends and controllingly connected with said pawls, said levers extending through to the outside of the casing, springcontrolled mec-hanismsecured to'the one side of the sectional casing and having operative connection with said levers whereby the pawls are thrown out of mesh with the racks.

8. A loose-leaf book-back comprising a casing composed of two sections, the one adapted to take upon the other, said sections provided with telescopic attaching tubes or rods, springs set 'within said telescopic tubes whose normal tendency is to expand the sectional casing, hooded ends secured to each section of said casing, the ends on the one section taking within the ends of the other, locking mechanism within said hooded ends, the

mechanism in the ends of one section being spring-controlled and adapted to move into or out of mesh with the mechanism in the endsof the other section, and means secured to one side of the sectional casing and controllingly connected with said spring-controlled mechanism, whereby, upon its operation, the spring-controlled mechanism is re leased.

9. A loose-leaf book-back comprising a casing composed of two sections, the one adapted to take upon the other, each of said sections provided with attaching tubes or rods, the rods or tubes on the one section taking within those of the other,springs set IKO expand the casing, hooded ends on each se taking-within the ends oi the other; flocking mechanism within I 8 id ho ded-L d -:th

mechanism in-the on s'of the one section being spring-controlled and adapted to move into or out of mesh with the mechanism within the ends ofthe other .section, said l'ockln mechanism so constructed-as to prevent t edisengagementof one section from' the other, and means secured to one side' of the sectional casing and controllingly 6011,

nected with said spring-controlled mechanism, whereby ,1 'upon its-operation, the-spring.- controlled mechanism is released.

10. A loose-leaf *bookback com risin 1a sectional'c'asing, the-onesecti'ona apte' to' take upon the other, said -sectional casing provided with telescopic ends and vattaching tubes or 'rods, amok-secured within one side of'said'ends, a spring-oontrolledpawlsecured within the other .side of said ends and normally he'l'd in mesh with the rack, means-secured to said pawls a-nd extending to the outside of'the casing, said pawland'rack so constructed and relatedto-each-other as to form a lockwhen'the book-back has been-fully ex panded, and mechanism secured to the outside of saidcasing and secured to said means whereby the latter may be operatedandthe 'pawls disengaged from-the racks;

"11. A -loose-leaf book back comprising a casing composed ofxtwo sections, the :one'

I adapted to take upon the-other, said sections provided with telescopic attaching tubes or rods, hooded e ds?" cured "to 'eaoh'section of said casing, ends tin-the one section tak mg within the ends of the other; racks secured within the ends of one section, spring-concameo trolled -pawls secured within the [endsof th'ei; I other section and'normally in mesh with the -racks,--said-racks and pawls so constructed as '46 to prevent theentire disengagement of r said sections vfrom each other,='-and means conof-said casing, the' ends on-{the one casingtak- 'ing within the ends of the other, "locking mechanism within said hooded ends ithe' mechanism in the ends'of; one section being spring-controlled and adapted to ymove into or out of mesh with the mechanism in the ends ofthe other section, means secured within the ends of said casing wherebypt'he' action of the .esxpansion-.sp rin s is limited, 6c-

and means-seouredto-one side 0 the-sectional casing and controllingly connected with -the spring-controlled -member of the loo'king mechanism whereby, upon its operetiom the sgring-controlle (1 member is-disengaged from 6 5 .7 t e mechanism within the ends of the-.otherf" section.-

. Signed-at Gin cinnati,=Ohio, this 18th dayot-z- Ju1y,1902. I w CHARLES o. IV IALTBY. Witnesses:

JOHN ELIAS JoNEs', -R .'S CONLEY. 

